What is proper protocol? Received a dish of food from co-worker...

My rules upon receiving food in a reusable dish:

1. Eat the food.
2. Wash the dish.
3. Return the dish to its proper owner with something in it. I usually bake something for the giver then put it, wrapped in foil or some other wrapping, in the clean dish.

@SuperMouse great in theory. In practice, unless what I put in it was a TV dinner, I don’t think that’s the best idea. :-P

I’m with SuperMouse on that answer.

@MrItty if you are baking impaired (which I certainly am), you could pick up some pre-made cookies or donuts or something along those lines to put in.

What an excellent suggestion SuperMouse gave.

@SuperMouse Hurray for the perfect answer!

@SuperMouse awesome. Great idea. Thanks!

@SuperMouse excellent answer!

High five for @SuperMouse !

OK, I agree that @SuperMouse gave an excellent answer, however, I would not expect anyone to bake me anything in my dish. At a minimum, return the dish clean with a thank you note (even a post-it note) inside.

@Cupcake Good point, too. I am a baker and I often bake things for people. I do not expect more than a thank you and the clean dish back. A thank you note would be lovely to get back with the dish.

If it’s a holiday dish, I would consider it part of the gift.

@SuperMouse….Brilliant

It also sounds as if this co-worker is trying to make friends with you, so give some thought to getting better acquainted! :)

I agree with @justmesuzanne. I think you should eat the yummy brownies, then clean the dish and return it, it personally while he/she is at there, so you have a chance to tell the coworker face-to-face how much you enjoyed them or how much your children enjoyed them, etc. And, in the future maybe make an effort to be more congenial (not saying you have not been, I have no idea, but seems the coworker prefers a little more of a friendly, social atmosphere maybe at work). I do not think you are obligated to make or buy anything for her. You can, I’m sure she will appreciate it, but I doubt she has any expectations of a gift back.

Hmmmmmmn. Could be a trap here. What’s IN those brownies?? Rat poison or something really fun? Of course…you would never know without testing first. Okay, give a “sample” brownie to another co-worker. If they don’t show up for work the next day, toss the brownies, wash the pan and give it back saying, “Damn, those were good!”

@JLeslie coworker prefers a much more friendly social atmosphere at work. She is constantly at everyone’s cubes trying to talk about personal matters, while the rest of us are working. She’s been spoken to about it by management several times (we know, because she tells us – whether we want to hear it or not…)

If you are not comfortable or interested in baking, I think a clean dish with a nice thank you note is the way to go. You could buy something small that is obviously from a bakery (and still in bakery packaging) and put it in there as a thank you/lighthearted joke about your cooking ability.

@MrItty So I was right LOL!! Well, that is not good. I would just return the clean dish with a thank you. I guess if she has been spoken to directly she is not getting that she is crossing a line.

Ah! I see! :D If this co-worker is prone to inappropriate gossip, of course, you should just remain cordial.

I returned the dish to her desk today when I got to the office, with a little post it note saying Thank You. When she got in, she laughed and gave it back to me, saying it was part of the gift. Ah well…

Thanks for the update. Next time you won’t give it back and the person will ask for it!

@janbb hahahah. My thoughts exactly. :-)